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Retatrutide dosing

Also known as: LY3437943 · Reta · GLP-3 · GLP-3 RT

Updated 74 sources

Every Retatrutide protocol on file, 18 in all, labelled by where each number came from. 5 have titration steps, each step is worked out in U-100 units for a 10 mg vial + 2 mL water.

Retatrutide dosing by goal

Grouped by goal. Each protocol shows the amount, how often, cycle and rest as the source states them, with every titration step.

Weight loss6

Weight loss, phase 3 trial schedule (TRIUMPH)

Amount
2 to 12 mg
How often
Once weekly. Start at 2 mg, step up every 4 weeks to a target of 4, 9 or 12 mg, then hold.
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Cycle
80 weeks in the trial

Who: Adults with obesity or overweight in the 80-week TRIUMPH phase 3 trials.

Timing: Any time of day. The trial allowed up to 2 permanent dose cuts for side effects that were hard to tolerate.

Weight loss, phase 3 step ladder as published by dosing guides

Amount
2 to 12 mg
How often
Once weekly, 4 weeks at each step: 2, 4, 6, 9, then 12 mg and hold
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Dosing guides describing the TRIUMPH ladder. Lilly confirms the 2 mg start and 4-week steps, not every rung.

Timing: If a dose is missed, guides following the trial protocol say take it within 5 days, otherwise skip it.

Titration steps for Weight loss, phase 3 step ladder as published by dosing guides
WhenDoseU-100 units (10 mg vial + 2 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 42 mg40 units · 0.4 mL
Weeks 5 to 84 mg80 units · 0.8 mL
Weeks 9 to 126 mg120 units · 1.2 mL(2 draws)
Weeks 13 to 169 mg180 units · 1.8 mL(2 draws)
Weeks 17 to 2012 mg240 units · 2.4 mL(3 draws)

Weight loss, phase 2 trial (48 weeks)

Amount
1 to 12 mg
How often
Once weekly. Start at 2 or 4 mg, step up every 4 weeks to 4, 8 or 12 mg.
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Cycle
48 weeks

Who: Adults with obesity in the phase 2 trial (338 people). One arm stayed at a fixed 1 mg.

Timing: Starting at 2 mg instead of 4 mg partly reduced stomach side effects and cost little weight loss: 16.3% vs 17.8% at 4 mg, 21.7% vs 23.9% at 8 mg, at 48 weeks.

Weight loss, common community start

Amount
0.25 to 1 mg
How often
Once weekly, held a few weeks to judge tolerance before stepping up
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Self-reported on r/Retatrutide and in community diaries. 1 mg weekly is the most common start in posts; some start at 0.25 to 0.6 mg. In one app's logs from 126 users, 1 to 2 mg per shot was most common. Not trial tested.

Weight loss, trial-style start (community)

Amount
2 to 4 mg
How often
Once weekly: 2 mg for 4 weeks, then 4 mg
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters who copy the trial start instead of starting low.

Titration steps for Weight loss, trial-style start (community)
WhenDoseU-100 units (10 mg vial + 2 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 42 mg40 units · 0.4 mL
Weeks 5 to 84 mg80 units · 0.8 mL

Weight loss, small weekly steps (community)

Amount
0.5 to 1.5 mg
How often
Once weekly, raised a little every 1 to 2 weeks
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters who climb in small steps, for example 1 to 1.2 to 1.5 mg, or 0.5 to 0.75 to 1 mg. One diary adds 0.5 mg every 2 weeks. Not trial tested.

Switching from tirzepatide2

Switching from tirzepatide (guide)

Amount
1 to 1.5 mg
How often
Once weekly, starting at about 20 to 30% of the tirzepatide dose (5 mg tirzepatide becomes 1 to 1.5 mg)
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: A switching guide. No trial guidance exists for this switch.

Timing: First retatrutide shot on the next scheduled day, no washout. The guide cites 3 to 6 mg as a typical maintenance range.

Switching from tirzepatide (community)

Amount
0.5 to 1 mg
How often
Once weekly, restarting low at 0.5 to 1 mg
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters switching from tirzepatide (Mounjaro or Zepbound).

Timing: Some wait 1 to 2 weeks after the last tirzepatide shot before starting.

Other protocols: injected10

Type 2 diabetes, phase 1b trial (12 weeks)

Amount
0.5 to 12 mg
How often
Once weekly. Start between 0.5 and 3 mg, then ladders of 3 to 6 mg or 3, 6, 9 and 12 mg.
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Cycle
12 weeks

Who: Adults with type 2 diabetes in a 12-week phase 1b trial.

Split dosing, twice weekly (community)

Amount
0.5 to 1 mg
How often
Twice weekly: 0.5 mg for 2 weeks, 0.75 mg for 2 weeks, then 1 mg (2 mg a week total)
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: From the top-voted r/Retatrutide progress post, held for 12 months. People split the weekly dose because appetite control at 1 to 1.5 mg can fade by day 3 or 4. No trial tested split dosing.

Timing: Monday and Thursday is a common split.

Titration steps for Split dosing, twice weekly (community)
WhenDoseU-100 units (10 mg vial + 2 mL water)
Weeks 1 to 20.5 mg10 units · 0.1 mL
Weeks 3 to 40.75 mg15 units · 0.15 mL
Weeks 5 to 521 mg20 units · 0.2 mL

Split dosing of the weekly total (guide)

Amount
2 mg
How often
Weekly total split into 2 or 3 shots or every 2 to 3 days, e.g. 6 mg a week as 2 mg shots
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: A dosing guide's split schedule. No trial support.

Holding a mid-range dose (community)

Amount
4 to 8 mg
How often
Once weekly, held at the dose that works
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters who stop climbing at 4 to 6 mg; others call 7 to 8 mg their best dose. Many never go to 12 mg.

Restart after a break (community)

Amount
2 to 8 mg
How often
Once weekly: back to 2 mg, then 4, 6 and 8 mg in weekly steps
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters restarting after a few weeks off.

Titration steps for Restart after a break (community)
WhenDoseU-100 units (10 mg vial + 2 mL water)
Week 12 mg40 units · 0.4 mL
Week 24 mg80 units · 0.8 mL
Week 36 mg120 units · 1.2 mL(2 draws)
Week 48 mg160 units · 1.6 mL(2 draws)

Maintenance taper (community)

Amount
4 to 8 mg
How often
Once weekly, stepping down over about 4 weeks: 8, 6, 5, then 4 mg
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters stepping down after reaching goal weight. Maintenance has not been studied.

Titration steps for Maintenance taper (community)
WhenDoseU-100 units (10 mg vial + 2 mL water)
Week 18 mg160 units · 1.6 mL(2 draws)
Week 26 mg120 units · 1.2 mL(2 draws)
Week 35 mg100 units · 1 mL
Week 44 mg80 units · 0.8 mL

Low-dose maintenance (community)

Amount
0.5 to 2 mg
How often
Once weekly at 0.5, 1 or 2 mg
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters who settle at a low weekly dose after goal. Some report weight regain after tapering to 1 mg. Not studied.

Maintenance every 2 weeks (community)

Amount
4 mg
How often
Every 2 weeks, e.g. 4 mg
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: Community posters debating the same dose every 2 weeks against a lower dose weekly. Some add a 2 mg boost shot on a 1 mg base when hunger returns. Not studied.

Maintenance, twice weekly (guide)

Amount
1 mg
How often
1 mg twice weekly (2 mg a week)
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: A dosing guide's maintenance suggestion after goal weight. No trial support.

General weekly range (guide)

Amount
0.5 to 12 mg
How often
Once weekly
Route
Subcutaneous injection

Who: A guide's headline range across all phases, with 0.5 to 1 mg for early titration.

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

Community-reported amounts

The Retatrutide amounts people mention most on Reddit, by goal. Counts, not recommendations.
Retatrutide amounts reported on Reddit, by goal, with mention counts
GoalMost reported amounts (mentions)
Weight loss2 mg (283), 1 mg (222), 4 mg (145), 0.5 mg (108)
Goal not stated5 mg (4), 0.5 mg (3), 2 mg (3), 10 mg (3)
Metabolic health1 mg (3), 2 mg (3)
From 900 Reddit posts and comments, last mined Oct 23, 2026.

Retatrutide dosing chart by vial size

Units to draw for the doses sources cite most, at every vial size and water volume.
Retatrutide: concentration and U-100 syringe units for each vial size and water volume
WaterStrength0.5 mgdose, units1 mgdose, units2 mgdose, units
5 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide5 mg/mL100.1 mL200.2 mL400.4 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide2.5 mg/mL200.2 mL400.4 mL800.8 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide1.667 mg/mL300.3 mL600.6 mL1201.2 mL2 draws
10 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide10 mg/mL50.05 mL100.1 mL200.2 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide5 mg/mL100.1 mL200.2 mL400.4 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide3.333 mg/mL150.15 mL300.3 mL600.6 mL
12 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide12 mg/mL4.20.042 mL8.30.083 mL16.70.167 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide6 mg/mL8.30.083 mL16.70.167 mL33.30.333 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide4 mg/mL12.50.125 mL250.25 mL500.5 mL
15 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide15 mg/mL3.30.033 mL6.70.067 mL13.30.133 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide7.5 mg/mL6.70.067 mL13.30.133 mL26.70.267 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide5 mg/mL100.1 mL200.2 mL400.4 mL
20 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide20 mg/mL2.50.025 mL50.05 mL100.1 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide10 mg/mL50.05 mL100.1 mL200.2 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide6.667 mg/mL7.50.075 mL150.15 mL300.3 mL
24 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide24 mg/mL2.10.021 mL4.20.042 mL8.30.083 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide12 mg/mL4.20.042 mL8.30.083 mL16.70.167 mL
2.4 mLCompetitor guide10 mg/mL50.05 mL100.1 mL200.2 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide8 mg/mL6.30.063 mL12.50.125 mL250.25 mL
30 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide30 mg/mL1.70.017 mL3.30.033 mL6.70.067 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide15 mg/mL3.30.033 mL6.70.067 mL13.30.133 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide10 mg/mL50.05 mL100.1 mL200.2 mL
40 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide40 mg/mL1.30.013 mL2.50.025 mL50.05 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide20 mg/mL2.50.025 mL50.05 mL100.1 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide13.333 mg/mL3.80.038 mL7.50.075 mL150.15 mL
50 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide50 mg/mL10.01 mL20.02 mL40.04 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide25 mg/mL20.02 mL40.04 mL80.08 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide16.667 mg/mL30.03 mL60.06 mL120.12 mL
60 mg vial
1 mLCompetitor guide60 mg/mL0.80.008 mLunder 1 unit1.70.017 mL3.30.033 mL
2 mLCompetitor guide30 mg/mL1.70.017 mL3.30.033 mL6.70.067 mL
3 mLCompetitor guide20 mg/mL2.50.025 mL50.05 mL100.1 mL
Units are on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). U-50 and U-30 barrels read the same units.Water volumes from

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

Calculate with this peptideYour vial, your water, your dose: Retatrutide in syringe units, with the math shown.

Mixing Retatrutide

Diluent: Bacteriostatic water

Water volumes sources use: 1 mL, 2 mL, 2.4 mL, 3 mL

Run the water down the inside wall of the vial, then swirl gently. Do not shake. At high doses people use a stronger mix, around 10 mg per mL, so one shot fits in a 1 mL syringe. One community poster mixes 20 mg with 3 mL on purpose, to make small dose steps easier to measure.

Retatrutide dosing questions

What is the starting dose of retatrutide?

The trials start at 2 mg once a week. In phase 2, starting at 2 mg instead of 4 mg cut stomach side effects and cost little weight loss. Community users usually start lower: 1 mg weekly is the most common start on r/Retatrutide, and some begin at 0.5 mg.

What is the retatrutide titration schedule?

Steps of 4 weeks. The phase 3 TRIUMPH ladder is reported as 2, 4, 6, 9, then 12 mg weekly, with targets of 4, 9 or 12 mg. Lilly confirms the 2 mg start and the 4-week steps. Many community users stop climbing once a mid-range dose works.

How much bacteriostatic water for a 10 mg retatrutide vial?

1 mL or 2 mL are the most common choices. 1 mL makes 10 mg per mL, which keeps higher doses small enough for one syringe. 2 mL makes 5 mg per mL, which is easier for small early doses. Use the calculator for the exact units.

What maintenance dose do people use on retatrutide?

It has not been studied. Community posters taper down to 0.5 to 2 mg weekly, or keep their dose and stretch it to every 2 weeks. Some report regain after tapering to 1 mg and add a small boost shot when hunger returns. Maintenance is one of the busiest topics on r/Retatrutide.

Why do people split their retatrutide dose?

At low doses like 1 to 1.5 mg, many users say appetite control fades by day 3 or 4 and hunger is back before the next shot. Splitting the weekly amount into two shots, often Monday and Thursday, evens that out. No trial has tested split dosing.

Do people cycle retatrutide?

Some do: 16 to 24 weeks on, 4 to 8 weeks off, tapering at the end. That pattern comes from community practice. No trial has tested cycling.

Sources for these doses

40 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 23, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.

Clinical study3

  1. Preliminary results of retatrutide from TRIUMPH-1Lilly Medical · checked Oct 23, 2026
  2. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity: A Phase 2 TrialNew England Journal of Medicine · checked Oct 23, 2026
  3. LY3437943, a novel triple agonist, in people with type 2 diabetes: a phase 1b trialThe Lancet · checked Oct 23, 2026

Competitor guide5

  1. Retatrutide ProtocolPeptide Dosing Protocols · checked Oct 23, 2026
  2. Retatrutide 5 mg vial dosage protocolPeptideDosages · checked Oct 23, 2026
  3. Microdosing RetatrutideGLP3 Planner · checked Oct 23, 2026
  4. Switching from tirzepatide to retatrutidePeptIQ · checked Oct 23, 2026

Community-reported32

  1. Starting dose?r/Retatrutide · checked Oct 23, 2026
  2. Given your height/initial weight, what was your starting dose?r/Retatrutide · checked Oct 23, 2026
  3. First Dose / Startingr/Retatrutide · checked Oct 23, 2026
  4. Starting Dose, Titration, and Side Effectsr/Retatrutide · checked Oct 23, 2026

Back to the full Retatrutide page for side effects, storage, stacks and legal status.